Ontario XC race

This senior race season has been different. Addie has a lot of responsibility with FFA and other things that pop up (not farming per se). She is only running once a week usually sometimes once every other week. While this is slightly sad it has made the races she run more productive and less stressful on her overall. Or mabye it's just the reality of lots going on and thus not having time to really get worried about the race of the day. This race was Ontario I was also needed to get cover crop seed so I worked the pick-up to correspond with her race. She ran well. The strong runners in her district came. 

Addie was able to accelerate at the end after surviving the up and down hills of the course. 

Aunt Alena was there with her family. She has been a big supporter of Addie and a kind helper filling in gaps of running kids around for the past month. 

At the finish line congratulating and talking to friends and fellow runners. 

Senior friends tired after a lot of effort. 

 I drove home with the seed and Addie enjoyed Kiwi Loco yogurt with the team. Life is sweet in more ways than one. She clocked at 21.02 a week ago she ran today in Idaho with a time of 20.11 thats a large improvement and the right trajectory for district competition coming up in a few short weeks. I'm happy for her running maturity to control her nausea this year and learn how to back off a bit then push harder. There is a lot to be said for experience. 

dress up

Last week was homecoming. I mentioned Addie was on court. Part of her responsibility was to participate in every event. From each dress-up day to dodgeball and the festivities of the final homecoming day she was busy. We worked to make sure she had proper apparel to pull this off. Thank goodness for the local goodwill store and a myriad of random hand-me downs. First day patriotic Merica Day. These two put in long days at school in the classroom then a few hours after school for practice and often Addie has a hour or three of meetings after that Hence the mule like packing of various bags and supplies to get through the many hours away from home. 

In between being a princess at school functions, fence building started in earnest. Bruce is learning to pound post and water cows, Addie somehow got a beard in the process. 

One dress up day was use the first letter of your name to dress up. Rancher Reed and Angel Addie. 

One day was dress your age. Freshmen as babies up to seniors as senior citizens. Reed wanted no part of that one. But Addie pulled off granny Addie. 

One day was rhyme day. Two versions of legally blond and James Bond. Reed was such a good sport to wear a suit to school. 

The true highlight of the week was Aunt Rachel coming to teach make-up. Oh the glamour and beauty of make-up. And Aunt Rachel is so patient and inclusive. She let the younger girls test out lipstick and try some powder. 

She and Addie pulled together a hair style that was just right and accentuated her natural beauty with some highlights. Rachel did a great job!

Andrea with enhanced lips!

Addie learned enough to re-create the look the next night those pictures to follow. This was a weekend filled by the hour with activities. I'm grateful for the full life we live and for the many who support and help us be successful at what we undertake. We are blessed. 

 

Mark Send-off

Another one has left the nest. He called after about 27 hours of travel to say he had arrived. I was just thankful to be in service as I was in the black hole of cell reception and was so thankful the call came through. His goodbyes were more spread out. My parents came for dinner Sunday the day before their beet harvest started steady. We were glad to have some time with them. 

We forced a family picture which will quickly be outdated when baby comes but we got those that could in one spot for a few minutes. Man we are fortunate parents. 

Morning of leaving we snapped pictures as kids left for their lives. The early crew off to Willowcreek. 

My workhorse brigade. Or the ones that have never had to fly alone. Mark has provided a lot of insight, teaching, protection, and general confidence to this group. I have no doubt they will be just fine but it's always hard to split the groups. When the older three left or split due to college and missions. When John left Mark etc. It's hard on my heart. 

We rushed to do last minute errands in our town and got a call a dear neighbor had fallen out of bed and could we please go help her get up. We rushed out of town only to get there just after her husband and in-home nurse had got her upright and off the floor. Aliza and Mark said goodbye and we dashed to town to grab Greg and go see my Grandma who was at work for the day. She is a volunteer grandparent spending several mornings a week reading with and drilling kids on phonics and math facts. He gave her a hug and said goodbye. 

John sent out a picture of what he was doing for his preparation day. This is the Houston Texas Temple. It's beautiful and unique. I'm so thankful my children want to go to the temple and that they are able with so many temples across the world. 

We got to the airport with plenty of time. I of course was crying this is hard to send them off. I'm not sad he left, I'm not worried, it's just hard to be apart and this time very apart for so long. I had the thought on the drive over that things I've cried over more than once this year are the very things I know people pray for daily. Being able to get pregnant and have children, to have children leave home and go on missions those are major desires. Here I am pregnant with children  a plenty two missionaries out and crying my eyes out in public. Well my massage lady told me I'm entitled to have feelings too- which was oddly very validating so I will say this separation of being tied to your family is hard and great and so important for parent and child.  

So while we will miss him in so many ways, we are thrilled he is gone and we will survive. We have plenty of strong hands in need of work and responsibility. They will have more space and reason to grow as it is their season to become confident and capable. We will all be ok. And I haven't cried once today a day later. We are abundantly blessed. 

 

Miracles

All of the waiting for parts and wondering how long the repair and replacement would take was vey stressful. This was coupled with constant monitoring of blood sugar and weekly long appointments monitoring the baby's health. Not to mention hoping we would finish before the buyer stopped taking corn and Mark needed to leave. Along with normal daily life requirements. 

In the middle of our harvest was also general conference for our church. The leader of the twelve apostles spoke about the power of families and the goodness of working and struggling together towards a common goal. I felt good in the midst of our struggle knowing we all were playing a part to make it happen. This year was one that started out focused on our gardening efforts. Summer and fall are made more rich and full enjoying the harvest from the plants we started. I splurged on raspberry canes this year and have had a few handfuls of harvest. As have some of the kids who know they are there. This brightened a very worrisome day. The fruit of our labor. I have pulled so many weeds to try to give these plants a strong beginning. That is the work of my life. Trying to give each of these kids a strong start a healthy foundation and what they need to have productive eternal lives. It is tiring and slow work. 

As this kid prepares to leave he was thrilled that his experiments with cover crops yielded so well. Our poorest soil known for half size cobs to no cobs at all, generally a weed patch. This year the corn was over his head and the ears were full and as big as his hand. In this desert water is the key ingredient to growing anything. Holding water and keeping the plants especially thirsty ones like corn is critical. We are working to increase our natural predator population to combat the pest problems. While the guys team cleaned the combine andrea enjoyed harvesting the hundreds of lady bugs off the machine. That is a good sign. Lady bugs eat aphids. This is yet another benefit of 1-2 applications of spray early in the season it allows for nature to get to work. We are striving to create a year round food supply for our soil to keep microbes working there are many predators that will attack the bad things we don't want we just have to provide the right conditions. So even though farm prices are lousy we are investing in cover crops for next year and look forward to increased fertility in our poor soils.  

One more story.  I lost my cell phone in a quartermile stretch that mostly looks like this. My case is cream colored so not gonna stand out in this dry leaves jumble. We tried locate my phone available through apple company. Nothing. Calling it went straight to voice mail. It was out of service or smashed by some of the equipment that had also driven this path. I know I can get a replacement phone but the data that is part of my day not to mention the ability to call and be called is pretty important. 

I made Mark who was the earlier driver retrace our path and see if maybe we might find it. Bumpity bumping over tracks we passed the halfway point and no phone. We got to a small portion of the field that looks like this. It was another science experiement spot with different remaining forage. 

And there it was screen up black in the yellow/brown completely intact just out of service on the ground. When it was in my hand it picked up service and all was well. This was a miracle to me. 

This has been a long year of wrestling with God asking Why again and again and being upset at the situations happening out of my control. Yet there have been so many blessings. A very temperate summer, kids much more capable and less problems than I remember on the farm. Extra help I hadn't counted on in harvest from Anna and many other things I'm not remembering right now. I'm thankful and touched at how patient and generous Heavenly Father is with me and my lack of trusting Him. I'm thankful he cares about me in spite of my weakness and complaining. I'm thankful he forgives and continues showing me how much He loves me. I've had indescribable peace since Mark got his mission call and that has come in the last week about this pregnancy too. That is very reassuring, especially as this is traditionally the time when anxiety and worry seem to take over my emotional state. Life is good and we are very blessed. 

Harvest Days

The long awaited harvest happened. These two were riders with me rarely but in the tractor often. Andrea enjoyed spending time with her dad. Merle as Mark's copilot almost everyday all day. They were good sports and enjoyed afternoons at grandma Saunders too. 

After a day of working we would gather around to plan for the upcoming day or week making sure we had the supplies needed for the next project. 

I drove 2-8 loads a day most days. These two were so sweet to welcome me home. 

Andrea loves to have her picture taken and be part of whatever is going on. She is a big helper and likes to know what's going on and who's going hither and yon. 

One day at the farm when I went to get the truck I found them hand feeding the cows. We had been given a truckload of potatoes and rocks. The cows love potatoes. Usually we chop them up and let the cows eat them at will. Merle found this pointy stick and found the cows would eat them right off. That was more engaging than just watching them eat. 

They are creative and love the independence of being at the farm. Lots of possibilities to imagine and try out as the guys work in the shop. Mark had several large repairs this harvest after all his work on the feeder house, replacing all the gathering chains, and welding all the holes we thought the combine would be bullet proof for this season. Not so much. First a slip clutch that runs the feeder unit burned up. Lloyd and Greg got that apart and ready for repair while Mark was in LA. Then the hydraulic hoses that operate the unloading auger burst. We got those fixed and they lasted about a day or two and blew apart coating all the new belts replaced prior to harvest in hydraulic oil making them much too slick to turn. We got the hoses repaired and steam cleaned the machine a few times and were back in business.  Then they noticed the pully arm, bushings, and belt were bending due to a worn out pin. Mind you all the parts expected delivery time was about a week out. We were so thankful when they showed up in days not weeks. And when we could harvest parts from a donor combine a neighbor owns. We had windy mornings and were able to do up to 20 loads a day maybe even 22 one day. Those were huge and only because Anna, Mark, and Reed were all available to switch around and keep the equipment rolling. 

After the last repair of new belt, bushings, and pin we were able to finish. What a relief! I'm so thankful for Mark being so capable repairing the machines. Greg was able to keep things going at the shop somewhat so we could keep customers there happy and we got the corn delivered to the feedlot. I didn't have to work full days and we managed. We are very grateful for all the hands that helped. 

Millie freshly painted my toes after her mutual activity one Wednesday. 

Anna and I delivered pumpkins for the Ontario FFA harvest festival. Also waiting were horses. Anna being in the know about horses these days introduced Andrea who was so happy. 

The kids school is clearing out the library, my kids bring home many of the discarded books. So we have a more and more complete home library thanks to the school. 

I even had a turn in the grain cart for a few loads, lack of practice and normal getting use to the machines and controls I made a mess of a load but got most the corn on the truck and headed down the road. I'm always thankful to get out of this machine. It is a combine saver and truly the key to efficiency but that high degree of necissity makes me nervous about messing up. 

 These guys make the farm go. They build the fence, care for the animals, drive the grain cart, do water, get parts and tools, and whatever else is asked they are the bright hope of Mark leaving they too are very capable. 

We are all about science and agreed to several test plots at least 15. It is interesting to learn what works better and best on our various soils. We really enjoy working with this man who is very thorough in his work and data collection. 

So between repairs and waiting we had huge days of harvest and were happy with the results. Afton rode with me often to do the getting in and out of the truck. How thankful I am for her help. Millie  and I worked on keeping the food flowing to keep everyone fed. We didn't clean a bunch but did laundry when we could. It's a major push of work and time for all involved. Mark got time in the combine as well with Lloyd providing most of the harvest. But he could come and go as desired. We are just so grateful for another season successfully complete. Now onto the cows. 

Harvestfest

Last weekend was harvestfest or the annual fundraiser at m kids school. It was also a part day of school so students were asked to help wherever they could. These two are great friends. Avery is a down to earth, spunky, smart, younger sister and so enjoys Millie. Millie feels the same and loves time with Avery. They prepared a lot of food. This is them getting ready to make cowboy beans. 

Afton has graduated to upper classman and spent the week preparing for the carnival. She and one or two others painted the fish pond back drop. She also painted faces at the carnival. Millie made Italian sodas for sale, and Livy ran various other boothes. Bruce, Alia, Merle, and Andrea enjoyed the many items of candy and playdough they received as prizes. It was a fun night. Usually I am working and don't see the carnival action but this year I watched kids and did not help with the party. 

 I love how involved and excited the kids were with this year's event. Kids are so capable when given the chance. I'm thankful we survived the weekend it was very full of activities.

Sundays with Dad

Sundays are a little different around here. For starters Dad is around for a little while. The kids love their time. They love that he lets them do things like this. 

Lia shared some of her books from school with him. We are both so impressed with how well she reads independently. 

Dad is often tired and if allowed to sit long enough he will go to sleep. That didn't bother the girls at all he was still there. 

I was searching through pictures and found that Alia did a lot of homework when she was a newborn. Maybe this is why school has come so easy to her she has grown up learning and watching others learn? 

I was mostly searching for pictures of this lady as a child. I had forgotten how insistent she was on helping and being in the mix when she was too little or quick to be careful with projects requiring care. Oh my spitter was a challenge because she wasn't able to do all she thought she should be able to do. 
 Funny thing though when I was gone this summer she led her younger sisters in painting projects and there was no age limit to who could participate. 

I realized as I read and remembered how hard some of these prized kids were when they were younger their energy and drive limited by a mom needing some control of the chaos and so much needing to be done with so many underfoot. Life goes quickly I'm glad we are on this side of all those little people. I hope we can allow the current little ones the same opportunities to grow and learn. They get a lot of passes as the older ones do so much. But as we are in the midst of a major transition from those who know and can to those who should but don't know and don't want to do more it will be a continuation of the battle to grow up and take responsibility. We are blessed even in the struggle.